The Army Halts Helicopter Flights Near Washington Airport After Close Calls
The US Army has made the decision to pause helicopter flights near a Washington airport following several incidents last week. Two Army officials confirmed that the commander of the 12th Aviation Battalion directed the unit to halt helicopter flights after close calls, reported on Monday. The flights have been paused since Friday due to the latest incident involving a Delta Air Lines Airbus A319 and a Republic Airways Embraer E170, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a statement saying that the passengers jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter were instructed by air traffic control to “perform go-arounds” because of a “priority air transport” helicopter. The priority air transport helicopters of the 12th battalion provide transport service to top Pentagon officials. The pause comes after a passenger jet collided in midair with a Black Hawk helicopter at Reagan airport last month, marking it as the worst U.S. midair disaster in more than two decades.
The Army stated that the UH-60 Blackhawk was following published FAA flight routes and air traffic control from Reagan airport when it was directed by Pentagon Air Traffic Control to conduct a “go-around,” overflying the Pentagon helipad in accordance with approved flight procedures. However, helicopter traffic remains a concern around that busy airport. Just yesterday, three flights were ordered to go around because a police helicopter was on an urgent mission in the area.
The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are both investigating the latest close call with an Army helicopter. They will continue to look into reports on the alarming number of close calls near Reagan in recent years, following the January crash. The FAA launched a review of data at airports nationwide with heavy helicopter traffic, citing specific incidents at Las Vegas airport related to all the helicopter tours there. This review is still ongoing.
The pause of Army helicopter flights near the Washington airport comes after the sense of urgency to ensure safety in the midst of close calls. The investigation into such incidents will help authorities understand the patterns and hopefully prevent future accidents.
